The 4 Biggest Problems With the GOP Tax Plan

For weeks, behind-the-scenes scandals have dominated Washington's headlines: the increasing evidence of Russian efforts to infiltrate Donald Trump's 2016 campaign, the uncomfortable disclosures of how prominent men mistreated vulnerable women. In neither is the full extent yet known.Unfortunately, less attention has been paid to the scandal taking place in full view on the floors and in the committees of Congress, the effort by its Republican majority to muscle through a tax bill that falls far short of President Trump's repeated pledges of giving middle-class Americans the biggest tax cut in history.Independent studies show that both House and Senate versions primarily benefit corporations and wealthy taxpayers. They reflect continuing Republican adherence to their questionable "trickle down" theory of economics, their pre-occupation with proving to their financial supporters that they can do something significant for them, and their leadership's decision to exclude Democratic input that might have produced a far better bill.The latter decision has complicated matters in the Senate, which may vote by the end of this week, using a parliamentary procedure that depends on losing no more than two votes of the 52 Republican senators. Feverish behind-the-scenes negotiations reflect leadership efforts to surmount doubts from members questioning its imbalance and its potential to further swell the federal budget deficit.You'd think tax cuts would be popular — but in this case, you'd be wrong. Polls show that most Americans oppose this bill. And you'd think corporate CEOs would be itching to increase investment if they get the tax cut they have long sought. But when presidential adviser Gary Cohn asked how many would do so at a recent Wall Street Journal conference, he was stunned to see how few raised their hands.Nevertheless, Republican lawmakers are under strong pressure to approve a tax bill — any tax bill — after failing to reform health care or pass any other major legislation in Trump's first year, traditionally the time new presidents get major proposals enacted."My donors are basically saying, 'Get it done, or don't ever call me again,'" Rep. Chris Collins, an upstate New York Republican, said shortly before the House vote. He was one of 24 House Republicans from the seven states with the highest state income taxes who supported the bill, despite the fact that the provision eliminating deductibility of state and local income taxes will almost certainly raise taxes for many of their constituents.The Senate version is even worse because it eliminates deductibility of property taxes. (Most states with high property taxes have zero or one GOP senators — except Texas, with two.)Here are the most problematic aspects of the Senate and House bills:Helping the rich. Wealthier taxpayers not only reap the bulk of the benefits, but the Senate bill makes corporate cuts permanent while ending individual reductions after eight years to make the bill fit budgetary constraints. That means about half of all taxpayers would end up with higher taxes in the mid-2020s. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says the cuts will inevitably be extended. That may be likely, but it's no sure thing since economic and political conditions eight years hence are totally unknowable.Hurting many others. The bills are riddled with provisions that hurt various vulnerable segments of the economy. The House bill eliminates deductions for excessive medical expenses, educational supplies, interest on student loans and moving expenses, all to finance larger cuts for corporations and higher-income taxpayers. While increasing the standard deduction helps some, those who itemize deductions would lose.Raising the Debt. Both bills would increase the national debt, already over $20 trillion, by at least $1.5 trillion — and probably more — over the next 10 years. The increased debt would trigger a $25 billion cut next year in Medicare; while Medicare costs ought to be reduced, this hardly seems the best way to do it.Limiting health insurance access. Equally ill-considered and damaging is the Senate's belated insertion of a provision eliminating the requirement all Americans must have health insurance or pay a fine. Estimates are that this would prompt more than 13 million Americans to drop or lose their health care coverage by 2020, reversing gains of the past decade. Some Senate Republicans want to include a bipartisan measure stabilizing Obamacare costs, but House conservatives oppose that.The ostensible reason for passing the bill is to spur economic growth, but many analysts question the extent, since unemployment is already down to 4.1 percent. Bruce Bartlett, a longtime Republican deficit hawk, sees a darker purpose: to force future reductions of federal spending, meaning domestic programs."It's a choice between passing an unpopular bill and looking incompetent to govern," the always candid former Virginia Rep. Tom Davis told National Journal.But if it passes, most Americans may conclude the GOP did both.Carl P. Leubsdorf is the former Washington bureau chief of The Dallas Morning News and a frequent contributor. Email: carl.p.leubsdorf@gmail.com  Continue reading...